DIGITAL COLLAGE: ALL ABOUT ME

Part 1: Collecting the Images

1: Location

Pick a location that is your favorite place or is your dream place.  Make sure that it is larger then 1000 pixels

2. Objects

• Gather imagery online that represents at least 5-7  things about yourself.
• Try to collect images with a consistent Color theme (warm colors, cool colors, contrasting colors, etc.)

Examples

• Hobbies
• Music artist
• Movies
• Religion
• Sports
• Fashion
• Books
• University
• Etc

3. Overlays

• Google to find and save 3 different images from the list below
  • Newspapers
  • Hand written letters
  • Sheet music
  • Inspirational quotes
  • Dripping paint
  • Textures
  • Bricks
  • Vintage paper

4. Personal Photo

• You must have at least one photo of yourself in the project.
  • This may be by yourself, with your family or friends
  • You may have more photos if you’d like

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Part 2: Laying out the photos in photoshop

Step 1: Create a new canvas

• File – New- 10 inches x 10 inches- Resolution 300
• Open your location image and drag it onto the new layer
• If it doesn’t fit click Control T and drag bigger
• Right click on the background layer and flatten image

Step 2: Objects Added

• Open one of your objects that represents you
  • Cutout the object from the background with use the quick select tool

Step 3:

• Drag the cutout image onto the main canvas
• Double click the layer and rename it
  • (ex paintbrush, ice skate, etc.)

Step 4:

• Continue steps 2-3 until you have used all your objects
  • Remember to rename eacg layers

Step 5:

• Move over your personal photo(s)
  • Rename it Personal Photo

Step 6:

• Move over the 3 overlay images you saved
  • Rename each of these layers (paper, paint drip)

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• You will have 8 or more layers open

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• Now you will be designing the layout of your project.
  • Remember the about rules of good composition, space, colors, etc.
    • You will be moving layers around from the layer palette.
      • Layers Rules
        • The object at the top of the layers  is on TOP of everything else.
        • The layer at the bottom of the layers pallet is UNDERNEATH all of the other objects
        • If you want an object to go behind or ontop of another object, click on the layer and drag it up or down on the layers pallet.
          • Example-the lightsaber is the top layer and is ontop of all the objects.
          • When you drag the lightsaber layer down the layers pallet it goes behind the other objects.

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Step 7:

• Start with your top layer
  • Click on Normal at the top of the layers pallet
  • Change it to one of the overlay modes

Step 8: 

• Continue using the overlays with each layer

Step 9: 

• Click on the top layer image
  • Add a Layer Mask to this layer (White Box with circle in middle)
  • Select the brush tool and make sure black is selected
  • Change the brush  opacity to about 30-40%
  • Slowly brush out the edges of your items so that they blend into the background
    • (You many not need to do this step for every image.  Every project is different)
• Continue to do this on all of the Layers
• Flatten your layers when done

Step 10: 

• This will be the last step of your project
• Pick the paint brush tool
  • Pick a color
  • Click on the paint brush at the top of photoshop and pick brush 24 or another brush that looks like spray paint.
  • Change the opacity between 20-30%
    • Begin to click the spray paint brush around your photo
      • You may change the colors as you go

Examples of 100% Projects:

Examples of 50% Projects